SEPTEMBER '24 LIBRARY REVIEWS

CONTEMPORARY FICTION (ZIMBABWE / DIASPORA)

The Train House on Lobengula Street by Fatima Kara, 2023
R340 from Love Books

Fatima Kara’s debut novel about the Kassims of Bulawayo and their world, will leave you longing for part II (luckily, it’s on its way). It draws on Kara’s upbringing in the southwestern Zimbabwean town and offers an evocative glimpse into being part of the Indian community there in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. This is a warm-hearted and compelling family saga that tackles everything from colonial rule to the contemporary fashions of the times. Sarah Buitendach

CONTEMPORARY ART (DIASPORA)

The Time is Always Now by Ekow Eshun, 2024
R1155 from The Book Lounge

Published to accompany an exhibition of the same name held at the National Portrait Gallery in the UK put together by acclaimed young curator Ekow Eshun, this book includes work by no less than 22 diasporan artists as well as extensive essays and commentaries. Sumptuous reproductions of works by Noah Davis, Kerry James Marshall and Njideka Akunyili Crosby are among the highlights, and the book as a whole stands as yet another testimony to the resurgent popularity of figurative painting in recent years. A few African artists who might also have been featured – Toyin Ojih Odutola, Amoako Boafo and Cinga Samson come to mind – are striking by their absence, but this caveat should take nothing away from the wonderful work that is included. Robyn Alexander

CONTEMPORARY ART (DIASPORA)

The Time is Always Now by Ekow Eshun, 2024
R1155 from The Book Lounge

Published to accompany an exhibition of the same name held at the National Portrait Gallery in the UK put together by acclaimed young curator Ekow Eshun, this book includes work by no less than 22 diasporan artists as well as extensive essays and commentaries. Sumptuous reproductions of works by Noah Davis, Kerry James Marshall and Njideka Akunyili Crosby are among the highlights, and the book as a whole stands as yet another testimony to the resurgent popularity of figurative painting in recent years. A few African artists who might also have been featured – Toyin Ojih Odutola, Amoako Boafo and Cinga Samson come to mind – are striking by their absence, but this caveat should take nothing away from the wonderful work that is included. Robyn Alexander

CONTEMPORARY FICTION (NIGERIA)

Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh, 2024
R380 from The Book Lounge

Blessings is a poignant queer coming-of-age novel. It follows Obiefuna, a young Nigerian boy struggling to reconcile his sexuality with the rigid, heteronormative expectations of his society. Facing cruelty from schoolmates, violence from his father, and possible rejection from family and friends, Obiefuna’s journey is marked by both painful challenges and moments of tender young love. A heartfelt and insightful novel, Blessings skilfully explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the complexities of living authentically amid societal pressure. Nokwanda Mngxitama

LANDSCAPE DESIGN (SOUTH AFRICA)

Veld: The Garden and Landscapes of Patrick Watson by Garreth van Niekerk, with photographs by Elsa Young and artworks by Heidi Fourie, 2024
R650 from The Book Lounge

Patrick Watson is one of South Africa’s best-known landscape architects, and is especially noteworthy for bringing his dedication to the restoration of degraded land, and the use of indigenous plant species, to bear on his process of creating gardens. His designs combine aesthetic loveliness with ecological sustainability, and over the course of his long career he has created hundreds of gardens in a wide range of sizes and locations. This book features some of the highlights, with writer Garreth van Niekerk’s text revealing how Watson’s design process unfolds, while photographer Elsa Young and artist Heidi Fourie document the captivating garden spaces. Robyn Alexander

LANDSCAPE DESIGN (SOUTH AFRICA)

Veld: The Garden and Landscapes of Patrick Watson by Garreth van Niekerk, with photographs by Elsa Young and artworks by Heidi Fourie, 2024
R650 from The Book Lounge

Patrick Watson is one of South Africa’s best-known landscape architects, and is especially noteworthy for bringing his dedication to the restoration of degraded land, and the use of indigenous plant species, to bear on his process of creating gardens. His designs combine aesthetic loveliness with ecological sustainability, and over the course of his long career he has created hundreds of gardens in a wide range of sizes and locations. This book features some of the highlights, with writer Garreth van Niekerk’s text revealing how Watson’s design process unfolds, while photographer Elsa Young and artist Heidi Fourie document the captivating garden spaces. Robyn Alexander

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